June 22, 2021 – 4:24 p.m.
A Talladega County teen charged in the 2020 stabbing deaths of his mother and twin brothers was denied youthful offender status.
Landon Hudson Durham, now 18, is charged with capital murder in the slayings of Holli Christina Durham, 36, Branson Durham and Baron Durham, both 13.
Attorneys for Durham had requested that he be tried under the youthful offender status, which would have eliminated a jury trial, sealed all of the court records and, if convicted, given him a maximum of only three years in prison.
Circuit Judge William Hollingsworth denied the request. Durham entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental defect.
Authorities believe the victims were killed at 3 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 inside their home. Durham then reportedly went back to sleep for a few hours before going to Munford High School for the day Tuesday.
A family member had been trying to reach the family all day Tuesday but to no avail. That family contacted another family member, and they went to the home where they found the horrific scene. They backed out of the house and called 911.
“It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been here for 19 years,’’ Talladega County Chief Deputy Joshua Tubbs previously told “It’s the worst thing I’ve seen in my career.”
Deputies responded to the house on Roy Lackey Lane that night and found the three victims. A lookout bulletin for Landon Durham was quickly issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said deputies arrested the teen about 8:40 a.m. Wednesday traveling towards Etowah County on County Road 71, near County Road 38. He was taken into custody without incident at a store and remains held without bond.
During the vigil, one family member, Jennifer Harrison, struggled against tears to ask the community to pray.
“Pray that we can find the strength, pray that my niece and my nephews are in a better place, and pray for Landon that he finds his way,” she said, as others erupted in sobs.
